Top 5 Fun Events to Enjoy in Tallahassee

As the school season begins anew, college students in Tallahassee have just one more week to savor their freedom. As the pace of events quickens, here’s a glimpse of the entertaining activities planned around the city. These events have been compiled from various sources including emails and the Council on Culture & Arts online listings.

The Essential Theatrical Associates and the Monticello Opera House present the Tony Award-winning musical revue “Ain’t Misbehavin'” from August 16-18. Directed by Bryan F. Mitchell, this timeless show pays tribute to the legendary Thomas “Fats” Waller and the infectious energy of swing music during the Golden Age of the Cotton Club. Evening shows are scheduled for 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, while matinees are at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, August 18. General admission tickets are $27, and VIP seats (30 designated seats) are $32, both available at monticellooperahouse.org or at the door.

Originally assembled under the guidance of director and lyricist Richard Maltby, Jr., “Ain’t Misbehavin'” won the 1978 Tony Award for Best Musical and remains a favorite. The show captures the delightful humor and vibrant spirit of Fats Waller, whose career spanned from uptown clubs to downtown Tin Pan Alley, Hollywood, and European concerts. Presented in a jazz club style at the Perkins Performance Hall, this immersive experience also features a cash bar with premium beer, wine, and cocktails available throughout the performances.

On August 17, the All-Stars Big Band, featuring Rodney Jordan and Dave Detwieler, will swing into the American Legion Hall, Post 13 at 229 Lake Ella Drive from 7:30-11 p.m. Modern music, including swings, dances, and grooves, will be showcased by a lineup of multi-generational Tallahassee musicians. Tickets are $10 for general admission, with student discounts available. Food and drinks will be offered for purchase.

The Bark, located at 507 All Saints St., is gearing up for a birthday weekend starting on Friday, August 16. The celebration kicks off with Little Foot, Petty Problems, Speed Runner, and The Village Idiots, with doors opening at 8 p.m. and a $10 cover charge. On Saturday, August 17, The Bark celebrates its seventh birthday with performances by Castover, Ellen Fish, Stefan Lange, Death Weapon Meister Academy, and Bench Warmer starting at 7 p.m. with free entry. Sunday, August 18, wraps up the festivities with Zalongo, SmoochyFace, and Callisto’s Collapse from 7 p.m., with music at 7:30 p.m. and a $10 cover.

At Blue Tavern, located at 1206 N. Monroe St., Pat Puckett will begin the weekend with a happy hour from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, August 16. Following Pat will be the Sawmill Jam from 8-11 p.m., featuring Frank Graham’s swamp boogie sound along with Kit Goodner on guitar and vocals and Mark Patton on upright bass and vocals. Accordion player Kirill Litvik hosts the 3rd Saturday Irish Session starting at 4 p.m. followed by Jazzmatazz with Colleen Nixon and the Heat Miser Trio from 8-11 p.m.

The LeMoyne Arts center at 125 N. Gadsden St. will conclude its “Forever Side by Side” exhibit featuring works by Randy and Debra Brienen on Saturday, August 17. The exhibit showcases paintings of the same subject by each artist in their distinctive styles, displayed side by side. On August 22, the center will open a new exhibit titled “Her Temple” by painter and poetess Isabella Al-Sharif, exploring feminine divinity and empowerment.

The Tallahassee Film Co-Op is holding its Student Film Premiere Night on Friday, August 16 at the FSU Student Life Center, 942 Learning Way. Six teams of students aged 9 to 19 will premiere their short films, which they developed over the summer. More than 320 tickets have already been claimed for the event. Reserve free tickets at the Tallahassee Film Co-Op’s Facebook page.

On August 22, Bobby Lee Rodgers and Melody Trucks will bring their musical talents to the House of Music at 2011 S. Monroe St. at 7 p.m. Tickets are priced at $20. Both artists have significant backgrounds in music, with Melody Trucks being the daughter of the late Butch Trucks of the Allman Brothers Band, and Bobby Lee Rodgers fusing rock, funk, jazz, and blues in his performances.

Additional events include a concert in honor of Austrian composer Anton Bruckner at Trinity United Methodist Church at 6 p.m. on August 17, and an art exhibition by Leslie Anderson titled “Lines, Colors, and Emotions” at Tallahassee City Hall from August 8 to September 23. The Great Oaks Pub at Southwood will host a performance by The Allie Cats from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Friday, August 16. The House of Music will also host the 10th Annual Harmonica Festival and contest on Saturday, August 17 at 6 p.m.

The Sound Bar, located at 1105 W. Tharpe St., has a weekend lineup featuring the Morgan Collins Band playing various hits on Friday, August 16 from 8-11 p.m. with a $5 cover, followed by the Dad Bod Showdown all day on Saturday.

The Tallahassee Film Society will screen “The Green Border” on August 17 and 18 at the Challenger Learning Center IMAX in Kleman Plaza. The film, set in the treacherous forests between Belarus and Poland, depicts refugees from the Middle East and Africa attempting to navigate their way to the European Union. Tickets are $11 for general admission and $9 for students and TFS members.

For those interested, details of upcoming events can be emailed to [email protected].

Source: Tallahassee Democrat